Wire shaping and forming machine.



No. 884,688. PATENTED APR. 14,1908. H. J. BRAGDON..

WIRE SHAPING AND PORMING MAGHINB.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

`PATIENTED APR. 14, 1908.

H. J. BR-AGDON.v WIRE SHAPING AND FORMING MACHINE.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3..

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 21. 1907. v

1\To. '884.,633. PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

- H. J. BRAGDON.

WIRE SHAPING AND FORMING MACHINE.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED sTArEs PETENT oEEroE. i

HERBERT J. BRAGDON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE HEINLEIN,OF

crncAeo,

ILLINOIS.

lWIRE SHAPING AND FORMING- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. BEAGDON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Wire Shaping and Forming Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The 'wire shaping and forming machine that is the subject of myinvention has for its object the forming and shaping of pieces of wireinto various objects adapted to be made of wire.

This specification particularly describes the machine as adapted toshape and form small wire tag holders, but by varying the shapes of thedie and plungers, hereinafter referred to, and by varying theadjustments of the different parts of the machine, wire rings or wirecli s or any other object adapted to be formed y bending wire may bemade, as will be readily understood upon consideration of the mechanismhereinafter described.

In the accom anying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view o the machine as'seen from above Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l showing aside view of the forming die and the rotating plungers; Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1., showing a side view of the a aratusfor cutting the wire into the requirelfengths; Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe forming die 3 Fig. 5 is a front view of the forming die, Fig. 6 is asection on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of thecam which is attached to the die for throwing off the completed article5 Fig. 8 is a section on the linel 8 8 of Fig. 1, showing the cutterbearing mechanism and the means of attaching said mechanism to thedriving shaft; Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Fig.1() is a side view, partly in section, of one of the forming plungers,showing the mechanism for throwing the completed article off theplunger; Fig. 11 is a view of the forming plungers taken from the front,showing the same mechanism for throwing off the completed article; Fig.12 is a detailed view of the reciprocating pin which passes through theouter end of each plunger and throws Aoff the completed object', andFig. 13 is a view in perspective of a tag fastener as formed by thismachine. i

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

It seems best to explain in general terms Patented April 14, 1908.

1907. Serial No. 380,168.

the structure and operation of the machine before entering into adetailed explanation referring to the figures on the drawings.

The entire apparatus will take up very little space. The frame of themachine is made of suitable metal and is supported on legs,

' made of suitable metal or other material, which bring the mechanism upto a conven- Vient height from the floor for the purposes of operation.

In the front of and at one side of the machine may be placed a drum orspool on which the wire which is to be out and formed is wound. Thisdrum or spool is not shown in the drawing but would be placed at thelower left-hand corner of the machine shown in Fig. l of the drawings.The end of the wire is then assed between a pair of feed rollers, and tv1e machine is ready for operation.

All the power for operating the machine is applied to a pulley which isattached to a driving shaft passing through the center of the frame ofthe machine. The frame of the machine and the various parts may be ofdifferent sizes for the purpose of making articles of different sizes,but in the machine described in this specification, which is, as stated,adapted for the formation of wire tag holders, the frame of the machineis only about twenty-three inches by twenty-four inches.

After the end of the wire has been inserted between the feed rollers andthe power turned on, the feed rollers feed the wire into the machine ina direction parallel with the driving shaft. After the wire has been fedin tothe upper inner edge of the forming die, one of the four cutterswhich revolve around the driving shaft immediately outside of the upperouter edge of the forming die, cuts the wire against a stationarycutting edge, leaving within the forming die at its u per edge a sectionof wire just equal in lengt i to the entire length of the completedarticle. Just as this section of wire is cut by the cutter, one of thefour plungers, which also rotate around the power shaft, descends uponthe section of wire which has been out off and forces it downwardthrough the forming die, which is stationary, and occupies the s ace ofabout a quarter of a circle which has t e center of the power shaft asits center. This forming die at its upper edge is straight but the outerlleased and is t rown into its former position edges of it are graduallyformed upwards and then inwards towards each other so that at its underend it is so shaped that as the wire j is forced through it by thelunger, the outer ends of the wire are bent rst upwards and then inwardstowards each other.

Near the lower end of the forming die a cam is attached to it whichextends perpendicularly above it and has its upper end bent at rightangles in over the forming die. On the plunger is pivoted an arm whichprojects out above it and carries pivoted to it another arm at rightangles to the first one extending toward the outer edge of the plunger.This arm in turn carries a pin which extends through an opening in theend of the plunger and carries a cam on its end. As the plunger pressesthe wire through the die the aforesaid cam attached to the die catchesthe arm pivoted to the plunger and depresses it, thereby depressing thepin whici projects through the edge of the plunger and throws oli thecompleted article into a sack which may be placed to receive it. As soonas the plunger passes the said cam attached to the die, the arm ivotedto said plunger is reby a spring which passes around the pin whichextends through the end of the plunger.

While the one section of wire has been so shaped in the die by one ofthe plungers, the uncut wire has been fed in until another sece tion isin place at the upper edge of the die, when it in turn is cut oli byanother of the cutters and is carried through theA die by anotherplunger. On the machine shown in the drawings and described in this secification there are four cutters and four ungers.

Having now described the genera method of operation of the machine, lwill enter upon a more particular description of the various details,referring to the drawings and the numerals thereon indicating thespecific parts of the machine.

1 is the upper of the two guide rollers, (the under one of which isgrooved for better feeding the wire) through which the wire is fed intothe machine from the spool or drum (not shown).

2 and 3 are the gears by which the roller 1 and itscounterpart aredriven. The gear 3 is attached to and rotates with the main drivingshaft 4, which is driven by a belt applied to the pulley 5. j

6 is a pi e through which the wire is fed from the ro lers 1. This pipeis bolted to the frame of the machine as indicated at 7.

8 is the stationary cutter-bar, which is bolted by the bolt 9 to a slot10 in the frame of the machine, thus being adjustable on said frame.

11 are the four rotating cutters which are sunk into four openingsprepared for them on the wheel 12, to which is screwed the plate 13 bythe screws 14. This wheel 12 is held rigidly attached to the drivingshaft 4 by the bolt 15 and the feather 16. The rotating cutters 1.1 areheld in place by the bolts 18, and when the bolts 18 are loosened, therotat` ing cutters 11 may be removed from thel openings in which theyare placed, and may then be adjusted vertically by means of the bolts17. The rotating cutters are also capable of adjustment around thedriving shaft by means of the bolts 19 which fit in the slots 20 thisenables the rotating cutters to be adjusted forwards or backwards so asto adapt the cutting of the wire to the operation of the formingplungers, hereafter described,

The stationary cutter-bar 8 has bolted.on

it on its upper side a guide bar 21, for guiding the wire into theguides 29 at the upper end of the forming die. As the wire feeds out ofthe tube 6 and through the cutter it passes underthe guide 29, which issecured at the head of the forming die 28. This guide 29 is bolted tothe frame of the machine by the bolts 27 and the bolt 25, the latterbeing adjust'able in the slot 26. The forming die 28 is bolted to themachine by the bolts 22, which are adjustable in the slot 23.

The forming die 28, when attached to the frame of the machine by thebolts 22,' eX- tends directly under the wheel which carries the formingplungers; and this forming die occupies about the space of a quarter ofa circle, said circle having for its center the center of the drivingshaft of the machine. At its head the forming die presents a straightsurface, but both outer edges of it, beginning shortly below its head,are gradually bent upwards and inwards as shown at the points indicatedby the numerals 30. This bending may be varied as it is desired to varythe shape into which the wire is to be bent, without departing from thespirit of my invention. In the accompanying drawings the die is formedso as to properly bend the wire into the shape of the tag fastener 31.

The wheel 32 which carries the forming plungers is fastened to thedriving shaft in the same manner as is the wheel 12, which carries therotating cutters 11. The bolt 33 corresponds to the bolt 15. The bolts34 correspond to the bolts 19 and permit of the rotary adjustment of theforming plungers in the same manner as the rotary adjustment of therotating cutters, and the bolts 35 correspond to the bolts 18 and permitof the vertical adjustment of the forming plungers in the same manner asthe vertical adjustment of the rotating cutters.

The forming plungers, on the surface which comes in contact with thewire, carry the rigid projections 36 and 37, which may also be made ofsuch size and of such shape as may be necessary to fit in the recessesformed by the bent upper edges of the forming die. ln the drawings theprojection 36 is larger than the projection 37 because the recess formedAs the driving shaft revolves carrying the wheel which in turn carriesthe forming plungers 33a, the plunger comes 1n contact with the cutsection of wire at the head of the forming die and carries it downthrough the forming die, the projection 36 passing along and through therecess 38 in the forming die and the projection 37 passing along andthrough the recess 39 in the forming die, thus the ends of the sectionof wire are bent up and around the projections 36 and 37 toward eachother and the completed article, as shown in Fig. 13, is formed. As soonas the completed article is formed it is thrown off the forming plungerby the mechanism hereinafter described, and in the meanwhile the nextforming plunger has made another article, and so on.

On each of the forming plungers is pivoted an arm 40 which bears aroller 4l. To this arm is also pivoted another arm 42, extending atright angles from the first arm and toward the head of the formingplunger. rlhe arm 42 comes in contact with the reciprocating pin 43which extends through the head of the forming lunger, and carries on itsend the lug 44, w iich fits in a recess on the head of the formingplunger between the projections 36 and 37. Around the reciprocating pin43 is fastened the spiral spring 45. To the forming die, at the pointwhere the bending of the wire is completed, is bolted, by the bolt 46,the cam 47, which bears the lug 4S. A's the forming plunger descends,the roller 41 strikes the lug 48, whereby the arm 42 is forced downwardand the reciprocating pin 43 is forced downward throwing the lug 44 outbetween the projections 36 and 37 and ejecting the completed articlefrom the head of the forming plunger. As the plunger passes the cam 47and the roller 41 is released from contact with the lugI 48, the spiralspring throws the ejecting mechanism into its original position, and thearm 4() is prevented. from springing too far in the opposite directionby the stop 51. T he wheel 49 is a fiy-wheel at the other end of thedriving shaft.

The lubrication of the die and forming plungers is most effectively doneby allowing oil to drip onto the wire, either through holes, not shownin the drawings, cut through the upper side of the tube 6, or at the endof said tube. Another possible method of lubrication is indicated by therecesses 5() shown in the drawings as formed at the head of the iforming die, into which oil may be allowed to drip.

Having now described my invention, what l claim is new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl is:

l. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and mechanism forshaping the wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers anda forming die through which said plunger carries or said plungers carrythe wire, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and mechanism forshaping the wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers, aforining die through which said plunger carries or said plungers carrythe wire, and mechanism for ejecting the completed article,substantially as described.

3. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire and mechanism forshaping the wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers,adjustable vertically, and a forming die through which said plungercarries or said plungers carry the wire, substantially as described.

4. ln a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, mechanism for shapingthe wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers, adjustablevertically, and a forming die through which said plunger carries or saidplungers carry the wire, and mechanism for ejecting the completedarticle, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and mechanism forshaping the wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungerswhich are adapted for both vertical and rotar adjustment, and a formingdie through w lich said plunger carries or said plungers carry the wire,substantially as described.

6. ln a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, mechanism for shapingthe wire, consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers adaptedfor both vertical and rotary adjustment, a forining die through whichsaid plunger carries or said plungers carry the Wireand mechanism forejecting the completed article, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and mechanism forshaping the wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers,and a forming die through which said plunger carries or said plungerscarry the wire, the surface of said die at its upper edge being straightand from that point having gradually formed on it a recess or recesses,into which the head of said plunger is or the heads of said plungers areadapted to ht, and between which and the head of said plunger or theheads of said plungers, the Wire may be bent, substantially asdescribed.

S. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the wire and mechanism forshaping the wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers,and a forming die through which said plunger carries or said plungerscarry the wire, the surface of said die at its upper edge being straightand from that point having gradually formed on it a recess or recesses,into which the head of said plunger is or the heads of said plungers areadapted to fit, and between which and the head of said plunger or theheads of said plungers the wire may be bent, and mechanism for ejectingthe completed article, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for shaping Wire, the com bination of mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the Wire and mechanism forshaping the Wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers,adjustable vertically, and a forming die through which said plungercarries or said plungers carry the Wire, the surface of said die at itsupper edge being straight and from that point having gradually formed on1t a recess or recesses, into yvhich the head of said plunger is or theheads of said plungers are adapted to fit, and between Which and thehead of said plunger or the heads of said plungers, the Wire may bebent,- substantially as described.

10. Inamachine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the Wire and mechann ism forshaping the Wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers,adjustable vertically, anda forming die through which said plungercarries or said plungers carry the Wire, the surface of said die at itsupper edge being straight and from that .point having gradually formedon it a recess or recesses, into Which the head of said plunger is orthe heads of said plungers are adapted to fit, and beween which and thehead of said plunger or the heads of said plungers, the Wirel may bebent, and mechanism for ejecting the completed article, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a machine for shaping Wire, t'he combination of mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the wire and mechanism forshaping the Wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers,adapted for both vertical and rotary adjustment, and a forming diethrough which said plunger carries or said plungers carry the Wire, thesurface of said die at its upper edge being straight and from that pointhaving gradually formed on it a recess or recesses, into which the headof said plunger is or the heads of said plungers are adapted to iit, andbetween which and the head of said plunger or the heads of saidplungers, the Wire may be bent, substantially as described.

12. In a machine for shaping Wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the Wire and mechanism forshaping the Wire consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers,adapted for both vertical and rotary adjustment, and a forming diethrough Which said plunger carries or said plungers carry the Wire, thesurface of said die at its upper edge being straight and from that pointhaving gradually formed on it a recess or recesses, into Which the headof said plunger is or the heads of said plungers are adapted to fit, andbetween which and the head of said plunger or the heads of saidplungers, the Wire may be bent, and mechanism for ejecting the completedarticle, substantiall)T as described.

13. In a machine for shaping Wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the Wire, mechanism for shapingthe Wire, consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers, and aforming die through which said plunger carries or said plungers carrythe Wire, and mechanism for ejecting the completed article, consistingof a reciprocating camactuated pin passing through the head of each ofsaid plungers, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for shaping Wire, the combination of` mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the Wire, mechansim for shapingthe Wire, consisting of one or more rotating forming plungers, and aforming die through Which said plunger carries or said plungers carrythe Wire, and mechanism for ej ecting the completed article, consistingof a reciprocating pin passing through the head of each of saidplungers, and actuated by a cam'on said .forming die, substantially asdescribed.

15. In a machine for shaping Wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the Wire, and mechanism forshaping the Wire, consisting of a plurality of similar forming plungersarranged successively on a rotating Wheel, and a forming die throughWhich said plungers successively carry similar sections of the wire,substantially as described.

16. In a machine for shaping Wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the Wire, and

mechanism for shaping the Wire, consisting of a plurality of similarforming plungers arranged successively on a rotating Wheel, a formingdie through Which said plungers successively carry similar sections ofthe wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and

wire, and mechanism for ejecting the comj mechanism for shaping thewire, consisting pleted article, substantially as described.

17. In a machine for shaping wire, the of a plurality of similar formingplungers arcombination of mechanism for feeding the ranged successivelyon a rotating wheel, aV 5 wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, andforming die through which said plungers 70 mechanism for shaping thewire, consisting carry successively similar sections of the of aplurality of similar forming plungers arwire, the surface of said die atits upper edge ranged successively on arotating wheel, each beingstraight and from that point having of said plungers being adjustablevertically gradually formed on it a recess or recesses, on said wheel,and a forming die through into which the heads of said plungers arewhich said plungers successively carry simiadapted to lit, and betweenwhich and the lar sections of the wire, substantially as deheads of saidplungers the wire may be bent, scribed. and mechaism for ejecting thecompleted 18. In a machine for shaping wire, the article, substantiallyas described combination of mechanism or feeding the 23. In a machinefor shaping wire, the 8O wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, andcombination of mechanism for feeding the mechanism for shaping the wire,consisting wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and of a plurality ofsimilar forming plungers armechanism for shaping the wire, consistingranged successively on a rotating wheel, each of a plurality of similarforming plungers arof said plungers being adjustable vertically rangedsuccessively on a rotating wheel, each on said wheel, a forming diethrough which of said plungers being adjustable vertically said plungerssuccessively carry similar secon said wheel, and a forming die throughtions of the wire, and mechanism for ejectwhich said plungers carrysuccessively 4simiing the completed article, substantially as larsections of the wire, the surface of said described. die at its upperedge being straight and from 19. ln a machine for shaping wire, the thatpoint having gradually formed on it a combination of mechanism forfeeding the recess or recesses, into which the heads of wire, mechanismfor cutting the wire, and said plungers are adapted to fit, and betweenmechanism for shaping the wire, consisting which and the heads of said-plungers the of a plurality of similar forming plungers arwire may bebent, substantially as described. ranged successively on arotatingwheel, eac-h 24. ln a machine for shaping wire, the of said plungersbeing adapted for both ver-v combination of mechanism for feeding thetical and rotary adjustment7 and a forming wire, mechanism for cuttingthe wire, and die through which said plungers successively mechanism forshaping the wire, consisting carry similar sections of the wire,substanof a plurality of similar forming plungers artially as described.ranged successively on a rotating wheel, each 20. ln a machine forshaping wire, the of said plungers being adjustable verticallycombination of mechanism for feeding the on said wheel, a forming diethrough which wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and said plungerscarry successively similar secmechanism for shaping the wire, consistingtions of the wire, the surface of said die at its of a plurality ofsimilar forming plungers arupper edge being straight and from thatranged successively on a rotatin wheel, each point having graduallyformed on it a recess of said plungers being adapted forboth verorrecesses, into which the heads of said tical and rotary adjustment, aforming die plungers are adapted to iit, and between through4 which saidplungers successively which and the heads of said plungers the wire 11@carry similar sections of the wire, and mechmay be bent, and mechanismfor ejecting anism for ejecting the completed article, the completedarticle, substantially as desubstantially as described. scribed. l

21. ln a machine for shaping wire, .the 25. ln a machine forshapingwire, the combination of mechanism for feeding the combination ofmechanism for feeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, andwire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and mechanism for shaping thewire, consisting mechanism for shaping the wire, consisting of aplurality of similar forming plungers arof a plurality of similarforming plungers arranged successively on a rotating wheel, and rangedsuccessively on a rotating wheel, each a forming die through which saidplungers of said plungers being adapted for both verl 120 carrysuccessively similar sections of the tical and rotary adjustment, and aforming wire, the surface of said die at its upper edge die throughwhich said plungers carry su`cbeing straight and from that point havingcessively similar sections ofthe wire, the surgradually formed on it arecess or recesses, face of said die at itsupper edgebeing straight intowhich the heads of said plungers are and from that point havinggradually formed 25 adapted to fit, and between which and the on itarecess or recesses, into which the heads heads of said plungers thewire may be bent, of said plungers are adapted to fit, andbesubstantially as described. tween which and the heads of said plungers22. ln a machine for sha ing wire, the the wire may be bent,substantially as de- 65 combination of mechanism or feeding theAscribed. 130

26. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination ol mechanism iorl'eeding the Wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, and

mechanism for shaping the wire, consisting of a plurality of similarforming plungers arranged successively on a rotating wheel, each of saidplungers being adapted tor both vertical and rotary adjustment, aforming die through which said plungers carry successively similarsections of the wire, the surface of said die at its upper edge bein@straight and from that point having gradually formed on it a recess orrecesses, into which the heads of said plungers are adapted to t, `andbetween which and the heads of said plungers the wire may be bent, andmechanism for ejecting the completed article, substantially asdescribed.

27. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, mechanism for shapingthe wire, consisting of a plurality of similar forming plungers arrangedsuccessively on a rotating wheel, and a forming die through which saidplungers carry successive sections of the wire, and mechanism forejecting the completed article, consisting of a reciprocatingcam-actuated pin passing through the head of each olt said plungers,substantially as described.

28. In a machine for shaping wire, the combination of mechanism forfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the wire, mechanism for shapingthe wire, consisting of a plurality of similar forming plungers arrangedsuccessively on a rotating Wheel, and a 'forming die through which saidplungers carry successive sections of the wire, and mechanism for ejecting the completed article,

29. In a machine for sha ing wire, theH combination of mechanism orfeeding the wire, mechanism for cutting the Wire, mechanism for shapingthe wire, consisting of a plurality of similar forming plungers arrangedsuccessively on a rotating wheel, and

a forming die through which said plungers carry successive sections ofthe wire, the sur- Jface of said die at its upper edge beingstraight andfrom that point having gradually formed on it a recess or recesses, intowhich the heads ot' said plungers are adapted to it, and between whichand the heads of said plungers the wire may be bent, and mechanism forejecting the completed article, consisting of a reciprocating pinpassing through the head of each of said plungers and actuated by a camon said forming die, substantially as described.

30. In a machine for shaping Wire, mechanism Jfor forming the wireconsisting of two cooperating members, the surface of one of which atthe point' where the wire enters is straight and -which from that pointbears one or more recesses which increase in cross section as theyrecede from said point of entrance, and the other of which has one ormore projections adapted to register with and pass through saidrecesses, substantially as described.

HERBERT J. BRAGDON.

Witnesses:

ETHEL MAE STAFFORD, LILLIAN M. OLsEN.

